Elevating attachment for marine vessels.



T. J. PHTLLIPS & V. J. MURGA.

ELEVATING ATTACHMENT FOR MARTNE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY], l9l6.

INVEN ORS 750/4445 'zfZlzps T. J. PHILLIPS & V. J. IVIURGA.

ELEVATING ATTACHMENT FOR MARlNE VESSELS. APPLICATION FILED JULYI, me.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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INVENTOR T. J. PHILLIPS & V. J. IVIURGA.

ELEVATINGATTACHMENT FOR MARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION man JULY 7. 191a.

mmwm Patented Dec. 12,1916.

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THOMAS J'. PHILLIPS AND VASIL J. MURGA, 0F MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELEVATING ATTACHMENT FOR MARINE VESSELS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 112, 1916.

Application filed July 7, 1916. Serial No. 107,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. PHILLIPS and VASIL J. MU'RGA, citizens of the United States, residing at, McKeesport, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevating Attachments for Marine Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an elevating attachment for marine vessels, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a plurality of lifting cables, each normally wound on a drum support on the deck of the vessel and each provided with an elevating member consisting of a buoyant body, whereby when the vessel sinks the elevating members will unwind the cables and elevate them, as well as maintain them in an upright position and which will enable the cables to be conveniently connected to a hoist so that the vessel can be raised.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevating attachment for marine vessels having lifting cables unwinding off drums as referred to and for the purpose set forth, and to further provide the attachment with means associating with the cables to take the weight or pull off the drums when raising the vessel.

A further object of the invention is to provide the buoyant elements carried by the lifting cables with means for indicating the point where the vessel sunk when the latter sinks to a depth greater than the length of the lifting cables.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an elevating attachment for the purpose set forth which is simple in its construction and arrangement, automatic in its operation to indicate the point where the vessel sunk, strong, durable, efiicient in its use, and readily set up with respect to the deck of the vessel.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and'arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which. come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sunken vessel showing the adaptation of an elevating attachment in accordance with this invention, the vessel sinking to a depth greater than the length of the lifting cables. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the deck of a vessel showing the adaptation therewith of an elevating attachment in accordance with this invention, the attachment being in an inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a top plan View illustrating a lifting cable wound on a drum and the buoyant element to one side of the drum. Fig. a is a front elevation showing the drum support, the drum and the cable wound thereon, the buoyant element support and the buoyant element mounted. on its support. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the elements shown in Fig. 1-. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the coupling member for con necting the lifting cable with the side of the hull of the vessel to take the weight or pull off the drum when raising the vessel. Fig. 7 is an elevation upon an enlarged scale showing the attachment in operative position.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 denotes the hull of a vessel, 2 the deck, 3 lifting cables, 1 buoyant elements carried by the upper ends of the cables 3, 5 indicator cables, 6 buoyant elements carried by the upper ends of the indicator cables, and 7 indicators.

In the example shown four lifting and indicator cables are employed but this number can be increased or diminished if desired. Each of the lifting cables 3 is normally wound on a drum 8, carried by a shaft 9, rotatably mounted in the side arms 10 of a flanged yoke-shaped support 11. The arms 10 have flanges 12 which are fixedly secured to the side 13 of the hull 1. The support 11 projects inwardly at right angles with respect to the side 13 and is braced by inclined brace-rods 14, which are integral with the arms 10 and are fixedly secured, as at 15, to the side 13, of the hull 1.

Projecting upwardly and outwardly at an inclination with respect to each of the arms 10, of the support 11, is a pair of uprights 16, having the upper ends thereof offset to provide seats 17. The pairs of uprights oppose each other and form a support for the buoyant element 4.

Each of the buoyant elements 4, termed elevating members, are employed tounwind the lifting cables and during the unwinding thereof elevate and sustain them in an upright position, is formed of a rectangular buoyant block of a size to sustain the lifting cable upright. Cork is preferably employed toconstruct the elevating members, but it is to be understood that the elevating members can be constructed of any suitable material or form. Each of the elevating members has the upper end of a lifting cable 3, fixedly secured to the bottom thereof, as at 18.

The upper face of each of the elevating members a is provided with a rectangular pocket 19, into which extends a spool 20, having normally wound thereon an indicator cable 5. The spool 20 is provided with a shaft 21, rotatably mounted in a. pair of brackets 22 carried by the member l. The lower end of the indicator cable 5 is attached to the spool 20, and the upper end is secured to a buoyant element 6, termed a combined indicator cable elevating member and indicator carrier. The combined elevating member and carrier 6 is formed of any suitable buoyant material, preferably cork, is circular in contour and of a size sufficient to sustain the cable 5 in an upright position after unwinding the cable 5 off the spool 20.

For the purpose of taking off the weight or pull from the drums when the lifting cables are connected with a hoist to raise the vessel, each lifting cable is provided with wedgeshaped abutment 23 and associated therewith is a coupling member 24:. The abutment 23 is secured to the cable 3, near the, lower end thereof, and the coupling member is connected to the side 13 of the hull 1 near the drum 8, but above the same.

Each of the coupling members 24L consists of a tapering body concave-convex in cross section and provided at its apex with an opening 25 for the passage of the cable 3,

The coupling member 2st further includes an inverted V-shaped flange 26, through which extend securing devices 27 for connecting the member '24 to the side 13 of the hull 1. The sides of the flange 26 are integral with the tapering body of the member 24:.

When the cable 3 is unwound from the drum8 will pass into the coupling member 24 and wedge therein, under such condition during the act of raising the vessels by the cables 3, the-Weight or pull will be off the drums 8, and the pull will be directly on the sides of the hull.

The moment the vessel becomes submerged the elevating members 4: will float on the water, and cause the unwinding of the cables 3 from the drums 8. If the vessel does not sink to a depth equal to the length of the cables 3, the elevating members will remain on top of the water, then by connecting the cables 3 with a hoist, the vessel can be raised. If the vessel should sink to a depth greater than the length of the cables 3, the members at, will be drawn beneath the top of the water and combined elevating members and car riers 6 will fioat on the top of the water, this will cause an unwinding of the indicator cables 5. The elevating members and carriers 6 will then indicate the point where the vessel has sunk. The weight of the cables 5 is very materially less than the weight of the cables 3.

What we claim is:

1. An elevating attachment for the purpose set forth comprising a plurality of drums adapted to be secured to the body of a vessel, a lifting cable normally wound on each drum, a buoyant elevating member secured to each cable for unwinding it when the vessel sinks and for suspending the cable upright, tapering coupling members adapted to be secured to the body of the vessel and each having a cable extending therethrough, wedge-shaped abutments carried by the cables and wedging within the coupling members when the cables are unwound to take the pulling weight off the drums when the vessel is raised by elevating the cables.

2. An elevating attachment for the purpose set forth comprising a plurality of drums, a support for each drum adapted to be secured to the body of the vessel, a lifting cable normally wound on each drum, a rectangular buoyant elevating member normallyseated upon a support and secured to a cable for unwinding it when the vessel sinks and for suspending the cable upright, tapering coupling members adapted to be secured to the body of the vessel and each having a cable extending there-through, wedge-shaped abutments carried by the cables and wedging within the coupling members when the cables are unwound to take the pulling weight off the drums when the vessel is raised by elevating the cables.

3. An elevating attachment for the purpose set forth comprising a plurality of drums, a support for each drum adapted to be secured to the body of the vessel, :1 lifting cable normally wound on each drum, a rectangular buoyant elevating member normally seated upon a support and secured to a cable for unwinding it when the vessel sinks and for suspending the cable upright, tapering coupling members adapted to be secured. to the body of the vessel and each having a cable extending there-tln'ough, wedge-shaped abutments carried by the cables and wedging within the coupling members When the cables are unwound to take the pulling Weight off the drums When the vessel is raised by elevating the cables, said elevating members having a rectangular pocket, a spool rotatably supported in each of said pockets, and means carried by said spools for indicating When the vessel is sunk When said elevating members are submerged.

In testimony whereof We aitix our signatures 1n the presence of two wltnesses.

THOMAS J. PHILLIPS. VASIL J. MURGA.

Witnesses B. E. JENKINS, LUELLA H. SIMON.

flopies 011. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

